November 26, 1997: News, Commentary, Open Lines
Listeners call in to react to the previous night's program with Major Ed Dames, offering their own theories about the discontinuity. Art shares news items including Defense Secretary William Cohen's statement that more than 25 nations have or may be developing nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. He also discusses a Duluth research team's confirmation that UV radiation is causing widespread frog deformities, and reports on a deer in Ohio found with an extra leg growing from its back, noting the mutations are moving up the food chain.
The broadcast features lighter moments as well, with Art describing his newly adopted stray dog and the outpouring of name suggestions from listeners. He recounts the saga of the dog stealing tools from construction workers and caching them in her doghouse. Callers weigh in on topics from two-foot mutant rats in Chile to the lovable qualities of pet rats, and Art previews his unconventional 4 AM Thanksgiving dinner of roast beef instead of turkey.
Key Moments
UN AIDS revises figure to 30 million infected, 16,000 new cases per day: Art reads the day-of UN AIDS bulletin: 16,000 people are infected with HIV daily, and previous estimates were wholly underreported - the new figure is 30 million, fully one-third more than earlier. One in every 100 sexually active adults under 49 worldwide now has HIV, and only one in ten knows it. The agency projects 40 million infected by the year 2000.
Art predicts the U.S. will hit Iraq no matter what concessions Saddam makes: Art recaps the Iraq weapons-inspector chronology: U.N. inspectors walked out when U.S. inspectors were barred, the U.S. surged B-52s and F-117s, Saddam caved to all demands ('disappointing the Defense Department'), then the U.S. demanded inspections of all 63 of Saddam's homes and palaces. Saddam caved again today. Art says he is 'absolutely tonight, more than ever convinced' the U.S. will find a reason to hit Iraq regardless.